Drilling and boring contractors handle and install underground utilities. They use equipment to apply pressure to excavate the soil. They test and sample the soil before the drilling begins. This can include offshore drilling. If you need a soil test or an offshore contractor, here are some key terms that will help you find the right person for the job.

Auger - A drilling machine. This is a flighted drive tube uses torque to displace the soil and rock. The device has hex couplings at each end.

Boring - An auger machine is used to displace soil to form a hole which is known as a bore.

Conduit - A term that refers to pipe, casing, ducts or channels. This is not a technically proper term due to its broad usage.

Directional Drilling - A system for installing pipes, conduits and cables in a non-vertical fashion. The system is steerable. This method may also be referred to as horizontal directional drilling. This is done in the case that conduit needs to be installed into a shallow arc.

Pipe Jacking - A technique used to form tunnels under existing structures. Workers are typically needed to excavate the soil in the pipes. The pipes are installed behind a shield machine with the use of hydraulic jacks.

Pipe Ramming - A method to install steel casings from a drive shaft to a reception shaft. A percussion hammer is attached to the end of the pipe for this process. There are two stages to complete the pipe ramming process.

When drilling and boring is required at a job site, contractors skilled in these areas are called in to assist. Such contractors use drilling and boring rigs to create holes and shafts in the ground. This equipment is often used in the oil, mining, utilities, and quarry industries. Using equipment like pumps, piling rigs, hydraulic rock drills, jacks, and crawler drills, contractors can get the samples, levels, and materials they want from the ground.
Whether land-based, offshore, or mobile, drilling and boring equipment is needed for a specific job. Contractors are highly skilled in operating these machines, to drill through rock, soil, or ground to obtain pressure readings and install pipes. They help to perform evaluations using tests, offshore rigs, pipes, and machines. Equipment is usually commercial or industrial in nature, able to withstand lots of pressure and other demands. This equipment can include horizontal drilling equipment and directional drills.
Contractors may work within the water well monitoring, soil sample testing, or commercial construction industries, often working in conjunction with other contractors, architects, designers, and engineers. Boring contractors use a variety of testing and sampling methods, from piston samplers to screen augers.
A company that provides drilling and boring may also offer blasting, demolition, and material removal. Contractors working within these types of businesses should be certified, licensed, and qualified to use the very latest in boring and drilling machinery. Whether a client needs custom drilling, soil borings, test pit excavations, well abandonment, or sampling of river sediment, contractors skilled in these areas can deliver.